Network location awareness

Network location awareness, or NLA, is perhaps the broadest improvement within Longhorn Server and Windows Vista. It refers to the ability of the operating system to define and detect the current network environment and take action based on where the operating system thinks the computer is currently located and what type of connection is currently in use.

NLA allows Windows to determine if the network is ready for use, if the domain controller is currently available, the amount of bandwidth and the current speed of the network connection, and what security settings are enabled. NLA can then use that information to make intelligent determinations about what processes should be started, stopped, or suspended.

For example, when you take a Windows XP machine that is a member of a domain with domain-based group policy objects in force and then disconnect it from the network, it will cycle through its boot process and likely hang for an inordinate amount of time while it waits to find a network connection that works. A similar scenario takes place when the machine can't find a domain controller on the network.

In contrast, NLA lets Group Policy sniff out these scenarios directly, and Group Policy can then decide to wait to refresh itself or apply policy until the network is back up. No more hang-ups.